Aeromedical Evacuation Support

The Client
U.S. Air Force

The Challenge
The Air Force needed a safe and secure method for transporting patients in aeromedical evacuation scenarios. The system needed to provide stabilized transportation for ambulatory patients, had to be easy to enplane and configure, and needed to integrate with aircraft rack systems already in use. The pallet had to support a number of critical design criteria, including:

• Safely transport injured soldiers over potentially long care-in-the-air flights
• Multiple configurations for various ambulatory patient loads
• Easy to enplane and configure
• Adaptable to aircraft already being used for ambulatory and/or cargo transport
• Work in a limited space
• Keep the patient's Center of Gravity within a specified envelope

The Solution
In direct support of the aeromedical evacuation mission, we designed a Patient Support Pallet (PSP) system for safe transportation of wounded U.S. military personnel from war zones. The PSP met the numerous, complex design criteria set forth by the Air Force. The PSP was a critical part of safe aeromedical evacuation during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Starting with a simulation-based design, we oversaw the manufacturing of the prototype and delivered a completed, accepted design to AF Human System Program Offices. After completing a computer-based design of the system and performing extensive simulation-based testing, we worked with a well-qualified vendor to provide a working prototype of the PSP. Working on a very short timeline, we were able to deliver the first working model of the PSP and worked through an extensive proof-of-concept evaluation. Our engineers conducted on-site training for use of the pallet and provided support for a successful form, fit, and function test.

The Results
Based on all testing recommendations, the Air Force's Safe-to-Fly Board signed acceptance for the system, and PSP prototype was approved for official use. "The pace at which we went from drawing board to a prototype is phenomenal," said one of the Air Force's deputy commanders of Aeromedical Evacuation (AE). "It has been a valuable tool in the success of the AE mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The AE system moved 640 battle casualties and more than 1,300 other patients in the first 35 days of the war without the use of dedicated aircraft. That is a remarkable transformation."

After receiving "Safe-to-Fly" approval from the Air Force, the PSP was used extensively during Operation Iraqi Freedom for transport of wounded US troops. In fact, the PSP was used during transport of Pvt. Jessica Lynch and 49 other injured service members from Iraq to the U.S.